Full Breakdown
European Public Opinion Shows Historic Decline in Trust in the United States
6/11/2026, 4:21:44 AM
Record Low Ally Perception
ECFR’s May 2026 poll of 19,481 adults in 15 European countries – Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom among them – found only 11 percent now view the United States as an ally, down from 16 percent six months earlier and 22 percent in November 2024. Half describe Washington as a “necessary partner,” while 13 percent see it as a rival and 12 percent as an adversary. Majorities in every country doubt the U.S. would defend them if attacked.
Trump’s Policies and the Trust Drop
ECFR analysts attribute the decline to President Donald Trump’s foreign-policy moves – threats to pull U.S. troops from Germany, criticism of NATO, overtures to claim Greenland, Middle-East strikes without European coordination and tariff pressure. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that such actions highlight the need for a new form of European independence.
Defence Autonomy Sentiment
Support for higher national defence spending rose 4 percentage points to 22 percent, and 47 percent favour EU-wide joint borrowing for defence versus 35 percent opposed. A “buy European” majority seeks to curb reliance on U.S. weapons, strongest in Denmark (75 percent), the Netherlands (72 percent) and Sweden (70 percent). Poland shows the highest confidence in U.S. security guarantees (37 percent), while Bulgaria remains the only country where a majority still expects U.S. aid.
Official Comments
Jana Kobzová said the poll shows “clear support for reducing dependence on Washington.” Pawel Zerka noted the public mood “creates a window for Europe’s leaders to go further and faster on security.” Yana Kobzova added that the survey “confirms a growing perception across Europe that dependency on the United States should be reduced.”
Opposition, Nuances and Data Gaps
Right-populist parties – Poland’s Law and Justice and Britain’s Reform UK – remain the only major groups still viewing the U.S. as an ally. Yet 31 percent of Danes and 28 percent of Swedes think the damage will be irreversible. Ukraine’s EU accession remains divisive, with opposition in several countries. Sources differ on the rival-adversary split (13 percent + 12 percent versus 25 percent) and on confidence in U.S. aid, with Bulgaria an outlier.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Across the continent, there's clear support for reducing dependence on Washington,” — Jana Kobzová, ECFR senior policy fellow
- “created a window for Europe’s leaders to go further and faster” — Pawel Zerka, ECFR senior policy fellow
- “The survey confirms a growing perception across Europe that dependency on the United States should be reduced.” — Yana Kobzova, senior policy fellow, ECFR
- “European trust in the US has crashed to new lows.” — The Local, reporting the ECFR poll
